If you haven’t seen it yet, Tim has a new post about virtual reality, and raises a question about whether or not Myspace is an extension of a conditioning program meant to make us feel connected via completely artificial associations. It’s an interesting stream of thought, and it has spurred me into thinking about just how influential the connections made on the internet are in my own life.
MYSPACE:
I found this comment about Myspace left by “One Human?” to be strikingly familiar : “dude, wait until you have a few hundred “friends” and you find yourself out and about meeting people and sayin stuff like “Oh yeah, i seen you on myspace” “Arent you one of my “friends”?” “Yo, hit me up on Myspace” etc etc, seriously, the line betweeen virtual & reality has never been more blurry.”
This has actually happened to me on several occasions. Just the other night Tim and JK and I were accosted by a crazy drunk girl at a bar that I had once briefly corresponded with through myspace. Earlier in the night I had made long eye contact with her, but I turned away hoping I wouldn’t have to confront her in real life. I didn’t know if she would remember me from my denied “friend request”. But then she came up to our table and slurred out “I know you …. Stop pretending that we dont’ know eachother, “. It was awkward, because yes, technically I knew her – but we had never exchanged a word between us. Luckily, she got distracted and proceeded to try to get into JK’s pants.
FRIENDS:
On the same thought, if you’ve been around long enough to remember, I first met JK in a situation mediated through the good old world wide web – I was at a lonely little club drinking a beer and this stranger came up to me, put his arm on my shoulder and said “you’re Garrett Kelly, aren’t you?”. Of all the random goddamn chance occurrences, he just happen to recognize me through a picture on my old blog.
Now the guy lives with me.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
My band, the datura blues, is currently made up of three people I knew from real life in arcata, and five other folks collected off the means streets of Craigslist.
DATING (er… kindof):
I have been recently been “chillin” with a girl I met on the craigslist personal ads – we wrote for two months back and forth and because of the potential for anonymity I revealed a lot more to her than I probably would someone I had met in person in the same amount of time. When she wanted to actually meet face to face, I kept chickening out and cancelling, as per usual with my self-deprecating ways. And while I’m at it, I wanted to mention that you can read about our adventures here; she’s got this hilarious website chronicling the men she meets on craigslist.
There’s even more I could go into if time permitted, but I am curious about how many of your “real life” connections were iniated through the web? How many of your relationships have strengthened because of the power of instant messaging? Dwindled because of misinterpreted humor embedded in an email?
Shit man, I wouldnt have come to Seattle or had most of the friends I have if it weren’t for the internet. I wouldnt have this job either, seeing as its an internet job. Great points though. I really dig this whole virtual reality topic…
haha. way to out anna’s blog. i think she was keeping it a secret. at least from us anyway.
Last night she gave me the “ok”, although she may have been in a weakened condition (a bottle of wine or two…).
You should check it out … I think you’re “Tom”.
Holy Crap! I’ll say weakened condition! LOL ;-) I’ll throw my two cents in here and say, were it not for the internet, I wouldn’t have met you and all your cool friends. I feel blessed to have you in my life. You’re an Angel ;-)
A bottle of wine or two? What were you guys doing?
“Tom” – we were drinking wine, of course ;-)
a conditioning program meant to make us feel connected via completely artificial associations.
Whoa.
Fortunately I have friends in real life; sometimes I wonder if kids don’t have as much motivation to make friends now that it’s so easy to make “friends” online.
Don’t forget my impending trip to Seattle! I’m really looking forward to it.
“Sometimes I wonder if kids don’t have as much motivation to make friends now that it’s so easy to make “friends” online.”
Forget kids! I already feel that way! Ask Tim and JK how difficult it is to get me to go out on the town – I’d much rather pick up pixelated chicks in Second Life.
I think this goes back to all those day when you were little talking with with someone playing fantasy games in your bed room and when i would come in and ask about who you were talking to, you would say “the nice lady. ” Funny I could never see her.
Do you think the computer is just an extension of that fantasy? The two year old that can make there world what ever they want it to be. Does it take us back to a time when there is nothing complicated, but our own thoughts? I’m curious.
I agree with Anna your friends are always interesting. I think that to be surrounded by different personalities with different thoughts is the greatest form of learning we have. Your an amazing bunch.
Please keep up the writing.
P.S. I think one thing I feel on the computer, is ageless. It’s like there is no age. People don’t know your age and so I feel comfortable in the conversation because youth doesn’t exclude me. I think youth keeps us in the loop and helps to bring us into the future. I know your all in your twenties and thirties but I think that you will understand this as you move forward. It’s not that you lie about your age it’s that age doesn’t really matter. Thanks Lou and Mom
Lou, yr the coolest. Remember when I would complain to you that Garrett was ignoring me so that he could talk to losers in Canada? The more things change…Yeah.
“Losers in Canada,” huh? Not only is there a banner of me below this box (which I didn’t know until this very moment) but I am a lot of fun, which, if you asked Garrett, you would know. Perhaps you are the loser, as he was ignoring you to talk to me.
Hey EL
We miss your complaining, we now have to resort to complaining to some blog out there. Please come bye the house I will make some of my famous charcoal colored chocolate chip cookies. I know they were your favorite.
Doesn’t Cutie Canada remind you of Lily …..such great attitude.
Lou